Wireless Power Consortium to create universal wireless charging standard, insist that it's like magic

Although we've seen some interesting demos, wireless power systems have mostly been a novelty -- apart from a couple gaming accessories, the most notable thing a wireless company has done so far is declare bankruptcy. That's hopefully about to change, however: a new group called the Wireless Power Consortium plans to introduce a series of charging standards aimed at making sure all this magical tech plays nice with each other. The eight-company group includes Logitech, Philips, Sanyo (and now Panasonic, we'd suppose), TI, National Semiconductor, ConvenientPower, and Fulton Innovation -- which demoed that wireless hamburger for us, you'll recall. The group plans to first release a five-watt standard targeted at mobile phones, after which it'll take aim at laptops and other more power-hungry devices. Based on the flood of wireless-related PR we've been getting as CES gets closer, we're expecting some big things to happen in this space -- it sounds like Energizer is also going to get involved, which could be interesting. We'll see how it plays out -- hopefully this is the year we finally cut that power cord.

Read - PC World article
Read - WIreless Power Consortium website

[Magallanes @ Dec 19th 2008 1:30PM]

Some sort of TESLA COIL?

[billhatesyou @ Dec 20th 2008 5:31AM]

Fully charged! Power on! Let's dance! Extra crispy!

[Casper42 @ Dec 19th 2008 8:35PM]

I think its no coincidence that the Digital Photo Frame article came right before this one.

One thing I always thought was weird about the photo frames was you gotta plug them in.
If you combined the 2 technologies, you could simply set your frame down on a wireless charge pad and most of the time it stays charged and feeds through the pad. But Grandma comes over and goes to pick it up, and shes not tethered to the end table to look at pictures of the kids.

I prolly just made someone else alot of money by saying that out loud, but whatever, lets see the wireless power products!

PS: Make the pad include a small weight sensor so it completely shuts down and stops wheezing my juice when its not really needed.

[John H. @ Dec 19th 2008 1:33PM]

but the thing being powered must be directly touching something that's plugged into the wall...most likely by a wire...so not really wireless

[Dorf @ Dec 19th 2008 2:07PM]

My electric shaver does that now.

[billhatesyou @ Dec 20th 2008 5:31AM]

But can your electric shaver give you cancer? Well? Can it?

[James @ Dec 19th 2008 3:31PM]

Same with my toothbrush.

[thatrotierkid @ Dec 19th 2008 3:37PM]

http://notalwaysright.com/whos-got-the-power-now/933

[Derek T @ Dec 19th 2008 1:34PM]

...what adapters will i need to buy

[coffee @ Dec 19th 2008 1:37PM]

I saw this movie, it has The Rock and Buffy in it and the two cars having sex.

And, since all my learning is done through movies, this can only end with a huge wirelessly-powered blimp blowing up.

[Mark @ Dec 19th 2008 2:20PM]

hahahahahahahaha. +1.

Oh, and did you even really get that movie at all? I keep watching thinking that if I only see it again I'll *get* it...but it never happens

[coffee @ Dec 19th 2008 2:25PM]

While I'm sure there's a massive political message behind the film, I was thoroughly entertained by Buffy as a porn star and the storyline with Stiffler. And the shooting of Cheri Oteri was great, plus Justin Timberlake behind the 50-cal watching everything. Pretty bizarre but very interesting flick.

//yeah, I'm not good with the names of the actors.

[Alex @ Dec 19th 2008 1:43PM]

This is a good idea. Ten years ago, if you'd've told me there would be this universal short-range wireless standard called "Bluetooth", I would've called you crazy. A wireless power standard would be absolutely sick.

[horizontaleight @ Dec 19th 2008 1:47PM]

Cancer.

[G @ Dec 19th 2008 1:54PM]

Hmmm, sending electrical energy through the air? To me this sounds like an innovative way of getting electrocuted.

[nanobis @ Dec 19th 2008 2:12PM]

it only a mater of time.

[RSKueffner @ Dec 19th 2008 1:54PM]

Some wireless charging aa's would be smexy for legacy devices once this all comes about.

[Tranada Day @ Dec 19th 2008 1:58PM]

Finally. I've been wanting this since I realized I had too many gadgets and not enough outlets in my house, car, hotel, motorcycle, hostel, ski jacket etc.

THANK YOU. Hurry up and get this out the door. I want gadgets that are 100% wireless by next month as I am sick of cables everywhere.

[srue @ Dec 19th 2008 1:58PM]

It would be great if all the little devices that line the back of my desk (cable modem, router, switch, NAS, wireless mouse charger stand) could be powered by one cord to the wall instead of five. This would be more than sufficient in the short term.

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2008 2:00PM]

this gets a big fat "meh" from me.

I plug in my iPhone at night. I put my WiiMotes on a charging stand when i'm not playing. i replace batteries in my remote controls about once every year or two (if that).

Unless it's a medium-range solution with 100% efficiency, i'm really not interested. I'm not THAT wire-phobic, for goodness sake.

[Garrett @ Dec 19th 2008 2:05PM]

Why not expand this to a road infrastructure to where it charges cars while they drive? Oh wait, that is a little thing called innovation. Why can't the big 3 have energy innovators/scientists? Profit margin. Got it. Wait, our taxes are now paying for their profits. Got it.

[Dee @ Dec 19th 2008 2:06PM]

I wait for the day when your neighbors will start stealing your electricity, just like your wifi signals :)

[nelson @ Dec 19th 2008 2:06PM]

if only we had listened to Tesla instead of that goon Edison, we would have had this before the Cold War was over.

...The Prestige tells us this.

[andres @ Dec 19th 2008 4:37PM]

damnit Tesla, there's cats everywhere.

[nanobis @ Dec 19th 2008 2:18PM]

I thought the intire point of being a geek is to have lots of lovely wires running around your desk, especially when i come to moving something and to have to play follow the lead, I like that game, chasing wires throught hole in the desk to the power out let.

Dont get me wrong, i love the idea of this, but having wires is sometimes good.

[Verythrax @ Dec 19th 2008 2:43PM]

God bless Tesla.

[Shadyman @ Dec 19th 2008 2:43PM]

Wow. 5W over the air? Can you say Electro Magnetic Interference to nearby gadgets?

[MikeB @ Dec 19th 2008 2:44PM]

I think most of you miss the point of the wireless power. It is less like your wireless router and more like bluetooth or MasterCard PayPass (short range RFID). If you have a SOnicare toothbrush then it makes sense... there are no plugs, ports or contacts of any kind. It involves being able to charge your cellphone, camera, ipod/zune, etc. by setting them down on a mat (like a mousepad) and have them charge... a wireless/connectionless docking station, if you will.

[Greg Duckworth @ Dec 19th 2008 2:51PM]

Yeah, because we all know that consortiums can come to agreement on standards within reasonable timeframes....

[Wonderkid @ Dec 19th 2008 3:31PM]

Hopefully Apple will adopt this rather than do their own thing, else we may see incidences of exploding MacBook AirPower laptops that will lead Apple to charge a shocking premium for repairs that will spark a battery of complaints...

(Terribly sorry, upun my soul...)

[DarkLight @ Dec 19th 2008 3:48PM]

I, for one, think this is a very stupid idea.

You lose a lot of efficiency (you can't get much better than transformers, wich have each coil right next to the other one, and they only deliver half the power. Waste the other half), and, honestly, why do we need this?

Plugging in a single wire too much for you?

I'm all for new tech, but some things are just... Well, bad ideas. Like the Segway. Or the laser coffee maker. Or wireless power.

[DarkLight @ Dec 19th 2008 3:53PM]

Addition: Wireless power, unless they find a way to transfer it with >95% efficiency.

[Verythrax @ Dec 19th 2008 4:25PM]

Wiki says Intel ahd done this with 90%. Witha lightbulb, at least.

Things take time, y'know.

[Volker @ Dec 19th 2008 3:59PM]

Bring on the electro-magnetic-induced-tumors!

[credo @ Dec 19th 2008 9:51PM]

"...after which it'll take aim at laptops and other more power-hungry devices."

Call me old fashioned, but I don't think I will be leaving my laptop on top of a large magnetic field.

[rems @ Dec 20th 2008 7:39AM]

Ultimately we might be able to extract all our electricity from earth's magnetosphere.

[cke @ Jan 7th 2009 2:47PM]

We just need shorter charger cords (6inch) so that several units simultaneously charging don't create a rats nest of wires. Maybe just a single USB charging hub on your desk with 5 female USB slots, and all gadgets have to charge off a USB plug.